Gian van Veen delivered a stunning display to defeat world number one Luke Humphries and capture the Machineseeker European Championship 2025 in Dortmund on Sunday night.  

The Dutchman, rapidly rising over the past two years, sealed his first televised ranking title in front of a record crowd at Westfalenhalle, marking a career breakthrough.  

Though Humphries raced ahead to a 4-1 lead after a cautious start, Van Veen turned the momentum in electrifying fashion—claiming four of the next five legs with world-class 13, 10, 12, and 13-dart finishes to level at 5-5. That spell included a brilliant 160 checkout, and the 23-year-old continued his charge with precise 121 and 91 finishes to move 8-6 in front.  

Van Veen’s third ton-plus finish, a 112 out, put him up 9-7, but Humphries responded by taking back-to-back legs and edging ahead 10-9. Just when the World No. 1 looked ready to close out victory, Van Veen fought back, overcoming two missed match darts, before Humphries forced a thrilling final leg with a clutch 85 finish on the bull.  

With the match on the line, Van Veen made no mistake in the decider, clinching the title with a flawless 100 checkout on double 16.  

“This is an unbelievable feeling, ” said Van Veen, who earned £120, 000 and rose to a career-best world number seven. “After missing my first chance and Luke’s bull finish, I thought I’d lost it. To win with that same 100 checkout is just incredible. I’ll never forget tonight, and to claim my first major title here in Germany makes it even more special.”  

Humphries was gracious in defeat, praising Van Veen’s play in the critical sessions and confirming his status as one of darts’ brightest up-and-coming stars, despite the disappointment of falling just short of his first European Championship crown. The world number one had put on strong performances all weekend, notably seeing off Krzysztof Ratajski, Cameron Menzies, James Wade, and Danny Noppert, but it was Van Veen’s resilience and finishing power that ultimately made the difference.

2025 Machineseeker European Championship
Sunday October 26
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Gian van Veen 10-5 Ryan Joyce 
Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Daryl Gurney
Danny Noppert 10-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
Luke Humphries 10-3 James Wade

Semi-Finals
Gian van Veen 11-9 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries 11-8 Danny Noppert

Final
Gian van Veen 11-10 Luke Humphries

Peter Wright believes his Machineseeker European Championship triumph can provide the springboard for a strong end to the 2023 season, following his return to winning ways in Germany.

Wright defeated James Wade 11-6 in Sunday’s Dortmund decider to clinch his second European Championship title, having also beaten the left-hander to secure his maiden victory in 2020.

The Scottish star produced a series of superb displays at the Westfalenhalle to win his eighth Premier televised title, joining Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross in becoming a multiple European Champion.

Wright began his campaign by recovering from 4-1 down to deny German number one Gabriel Clemens on Thursday’s opening night, before dispatching world number one Michael Smith 10-4 in round two.

The 53-year-old then won through gruelling encounters against Masters champion Chris Dobey and Dutch number two Danny Noppert, before toppling a tenacious Wade to claim the £120, 000 top prize.

“The old guy can still do it, ” quipped Wright, who joins Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Rob Cross in becoming a multiple European Champion.

“I was fortunate in my first game against Gabriel Clemens. I pulled out two 180s to get back in the match, but it was just brilliant to play in front of this amazing crowd this weekend.

“My throwing action went totally out the window in the last two matches. I didn’t know what I was doing, but luckily enough I got over the line.”

Wright was the early aggressor in Sunday’s decider, establishing a narrow 3-2 advantage at the first interval despite 157 and 96 checkouts from Wade.

Back-to-back 13-dart legs then catapulted Wright into a 6-2 cushion, and while Wade responded with consecutive legs, the Scot returned the favour to restore his four-leg buffer.

The two-time World Cup winner then fired in successive 14-darters to move to the cusp of glory at 10-5, only to squander three match darts in leg 16 as Wade sank a 13-darter on tops to prolong the contest.

However, Wright quashed any fears of a famous fightback in the following leg, converting a clinical 96 checkout to clinch his third title of 2023, which sees him regain second spot on the PDC Order of Merit.

Wade, a European Champion in 2018, was appearing in his first televised ranking final since his UK Open triumph in March 2021, following a string of spirited displays in Dortmund.

The left-hander, who saw off Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jose de Sousa earlier in the event, landed three ton-plus finishes to record a superb 10-6 victory over second seed Luke Humphries in the last eight.

Wade then fought back brilliantly from 5-1 down to edge out Dutch youngster Gian van Veen in the semi-finals, running out an 11-9 winner to secure an instant return to the world’s top 16.

“I played a man who was better than me, ” reflected Wade, who also confirmed his place at next month’s Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts after scooping the £60, 000 runner-up prize.

“I’m gutted [with the result], but I’ve not been very good for the last 14 months, so this is a step in the right direction.

“I’ve been fortunate today because a few of the players didn’t play as well as they can, but for me this is a massive building block, and I’m moving forwards again.”

Earlier in the day, debutant Van Veen dumped out four-time champion Van Gerwen in the quarter-finals, punishing a below-par display from his compatriot to secure the biggest win of his career.

In the other quarter-final tie, Noppert produced a monumental fightback from 7-0 down to stun Gerwyn Price, winning ten of the last 11 legs to prevail with a 101 average and seven maximums.

Source PDC